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DEmul, Quick Start Guide

Welcome to the DEmul Quick Start Guide. This guide will tell you how to set up DEmul quickly and with fewer details for those of you in a rush! For the full DEmul guide and review please click here. To view other Emulator Reviews or Quick Start Guides in the future and see the review guidelines, click the Atlas of Judgment!

Step 1. If you have not already installed libraries for DirectX, Visual C++ 2010 and 2013, .NET Framework, and latest video drivers for your video card, do so now
Download the setup files under sub-heading ‘Files you may need’ appropriate for your Windows computer and hardware.

It is recommended to download and install DirectX, Visual C++ 2010 and 2013 (both x86 and x64 even on 64-bit computers), and .NET framework.

Install the latest video drivers for your video card.

Install Winrar or 7-Zip so you will be able to open archived files.

Step 2. Download the emulator from the links above and unpack it to a desired location on your hard-drive
Download the emulator from the links above, and use Winrar or 7-Zip to extract the files to a folder exclusive for the emulator. Name this folder ‘DEmul 0.7’ or something similar to remind you of its contents.

In your ‘DEmul 0.7’ folder, there should only be one folder at the moment: ‘plugins.’ Other folders will be created on first start.

Step 3. Launch DEmul from the folder
You will see a prompt ‘BIOS & Plugins not configured.’ Press ‘OK.’ On the ‘Plugins, Maple, & Paths’ screen, press ‘OK’ again.

Now you will see the DEmul emulator window, but we will not use it now. Close the DEmul emulator window.

Step 4. Download the DEmul BIOS from the links above, open the archive with Winrar or 7-Zip, and place the contents in the ‘roms’ folder in your ‘DEmul 0.7’ folder
In the ‘roms’ folder now there should be six files: ‘dc.zip,’ ‘naomi.zip,’ ‘naomi2.zip,’ ‘mie.zip,’ ‘hikaru.zip,’ and ‘awbios.zip.’

The one you need to boot games for Dreamcast is ‘dc.zip.’

For Naomi games you need ‘naomi.zip’ and ‘naomi2.zip.’

For Atomiswave games you need ‘awbios.zip.’

For Hikaru games you need ‘mie.zip’ and ‘hikaru.zip.’

Note: You do not need to extract the .zip archived BIOS files in this folder! The BIOS files will be read from the archives.

Step 5. Start the emulator again to setup the emulator

Step 6. Configure paths so the emulator can find the BIOS, plugins, and arcade ROMs — click Config –> Plugins and Paths
Plugins Path – make sure this is directed to …\[your-DEmul-emulator-folder]\plugins\…

Roms and Bioses Paths – make sure this is directed to …\[your-DEmul-emulator-folder]\roms\…

Nvram Path – make sure this is directed to …\[your-DEmul-emulator-folder]\nvram\…

Step 7. Select the plugins you wish to use — click Config –> Plugins and Paths
Video plugin – select gpuDX11 if you want to raise internal resolution in 3D games, or gpuDX11ng if you want to use the newer plugin and stay at 1x internal resolution (gpu DX11ng also has better compatibility with some 2D menus and games)

press ‘Select’ and use Windows Explorer to browse to the directory of a Dreamcast CD image if you wish to boot a Dreamcast game

press Eject to remove the CD image, if you wish to boot the Dreamcast system menu

Netplay

nothing to configure here, recommended only for advanced users

Controls

set your controls here for Dreamcast and Arcade games

for novice users, click Joy 1 under Dreamcast, then left-click a Dreamcast control button in the new window, and then press a key on your keyboard, or a button on your connected controller pad, to configure a key

you may have to hold down a button before left-clicking to configure keys if DEmul constantly reads input from your connected joystick/analog stick on your controller

recommend only configuring ‘Standard Controller Buttons’ for best compatibility with Dreamcast games

for Arcade games, configure joypads under the ‘Arcade’ sub-heading in the same way as for Dreamcast joypads, and also set keys for ‘Service,’ ‘Test,’ and ‘JVS Test’

you can adjust the Deadzone for DirectInput analog inputs in the controls menu at the bottom of the window

Step 9. If you need to use a memory card, consult the full guide here for a comprehensive guide on how to create, format, select, and swap memory cards
If you just want to quickly try booting a game, skip to Step 10

Step 10. Boot the game — Click File –> Run Dreamcast
This will boot the game you selected in Step 8, GD-ROM. The game should now boot!

If you just want to play Dreamcast games, you are finished! Enjoy your game!

If you also want to play Arcade games, continue to the next step.

Step 11. Place Arcade game archives in the ‘roms’ folder
You must place the arcade game you wish to play in the ‘roms’ folder here: …\[your-DEmul-emulator-folder]\roms\…

The .zip archive name must also match the name in the ROM list which you can browse at File –> Run Naomi/Naomi2, or Hikaru, or Atomiswave

For example, if you are trying to play The House of the Dead 2, the file name of the archive must be hotd2.zip and it must be in the ‘roms’ folder.

Note: You do not need to extract the .zip archive in this folder! The game will be read from the archive, just like the BIOS files.

Step 12. Boot the Arcade Game — Click File –> Run [Naomi/Naomi2, or Hikaru, or Atomiswave] and select the game you stored in the ‘roms’ folder
If the game archive is valid, the game archive is placed in the ‘roms’ folder, and the game archive is named correctly, the game will boot up.

If the game has booted up, you are finished! Enjoy your game!

If you need to configure games with lightguns, or special analog controls for games with steering wheels or analog pedal controls, go to step 13.

Step 13. To configure special analog controls for games with lightguns, or special analog controls for games with steering wheels or analog pedal controls, please consult the full guide here

I think you are asking about running the arcade games like Naomi and such. The games are not included with the emulator. First you have to get the files for the games, and make sure they are named appropriately, and place them in the correct folder. Try looking at Steps 11 and 12 again or consulting the full guide.

Here is one place you might be able to get the arcade roms you are looking for: http://edgeemu.net/

Hello CurryKing, I’m new to emulation and have had success with two other emulators, and now I find I can get the Dolphin Blue Atomisware game to load and it looks great using the latest Demul 0.7 the only problem is , I can’t control it! For some reason it won’t let me map my PS3 DualShock game pad and The gamepad works fine with the other emulators thanks to a Scarlet Crush Productions program. Will you please help, I love retro games and really want to play/collect Dolphin Blue. Strangely, earlier versions like demul 5.7, 0.581 recognize my controller just fine but I couldn’t get the game to load, it kept asking for a gpu plugin which I thought I had. Being an older gamer I’m about ready to pull out what little hair I have left. Look forward to hearing from you. JWE